4895 powder

TTSX · Mar 19, 2021

Looking for 4895 powder for my M1 Garand. All sources I've found suggest that's the right one to make her run so that's what I need. Will travel a reasonable distance of needed

ma96782 · Mar 19, 2021

I keep this (as a reminder} for when I'm reloading Garand ammo.

The difference lies in the GAS PORT PRESSURE of the two loadings. The issue with the M1 rifle and ammo does not lie with max chamber pressure. The M1's action is as strong as any other out there and stronger than many commercially made bolt rifles.... BUT the M1 has a tender gas system. The pressure as the bullet passes the gas port is critical not only to function but to durability of the parts.

The gas port pressure is a function of bullet weight and powder burn rate. The main difference between the HXP and the Hornady loads are with the burn rate of the powder. The loads you see in the Hornady manual are calibrated to keep the gas port pressure below the design max..... even if that means a much lower than normal muzzle velocity for the bullet. It just means that those powders are on the low end of the burn rate for the M1.

Only medium burn rate powders are suitable for the M1's gas system. These keep chamber pressure below max and keep the gas port pressure within the design range. Back in the 50's the techies of Springfield Armory (the REAL one) gave the following two "M1 Gas System Safe Load Rules" to civilian shooters who were just being allowed access to the M1 rifle for Highpower competition:

1) NEVER shoot bullets HEAVIER than 180 grains
2) NEVER shoot powder that is SLOWER burn than IMR-4320

Violating either one of these two rules... i.e. slower powder OR a heavier bullet has the effect of raising the tail of the pressure curve (Where the bullet passes the port) above design spec.

Military M2 loads can be duped with any flavor of 4895 and a 147-152 grain bullet. The perennial Highpower target load for the M1 for the last 4 decades has been a 168-175 grain target bullet over IMR-4064 powder.

Please note that you CANNOT... rpt. CANNOT determine the suitability of a round for use in the M1 by muzzle velocity. It is quite possible that a round can be at the same muzzle velocity (Or lower) as an M2 round yet have a port pressure that is way over gas system spec. You MUST know the powder burn rate to know suitability for the M1. If in doubt, why risk it.

Just my 2 bits,
Swampy (posted on the AR15.com site)

Today.....it isn't so easy to find the powders that you might want for a particular application. And YES 4895 is a good powder. Though not the only powder.

Also.......some data.

Recommended .30 caliber M1 loadings from the NRA

147 - 155 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets

IMR 3031 - 48.0 grains
IMR 4895 - 49.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 50.0 grains
W748 - 48.0 grains
AA2460 - 49.0 grains
AA2520 - 51.0 grains
AA2495 - 50.5 grains
H4895 - 49.0 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 49.0 grains
RL-12 - 48.0 grains

165/168 grain FMJ, HP or SP bullets

IMR 4895 - 47.0 grains
IMR 4094 - 48.0 grains
AA2520 - 47.5 grains
AA2495 - 47.0 grains
H4895 - 47.5 grains
BLC-2 - 49.0 grains
H335 - 47.0 grains
RL-12 - 44.5 grains

173/175 grain FMJ or HPBT bullets

IMR 4895 - 46.0 grains
IMR 4064 - 47.0 grains
AA2460 - 46.0 grains
AA2495 - 46.0 grains
H4895 - 47.0 grains
BLC-2 - 48.0 grains

Aloha, Mark

PS....for more data try looking up key words : "Master Po's M1 loading data".

TTSX · Mar 20, 2021

Thankyou, Mark!

jordanka16 · Mar 20, 2021

4064 is what I use in mine for the best accuracy, great for 150-175 gr loads.

sandmonkey · Apr 5, 2021

TTSX said:
Looking for 4895 powder for my M1 Garand. All sources I've found suggest that's the right one to make her run so that's what I need. Will travel a reasonable distance of needed